MOROS A CLASS BY THEMSELVES 161 country inhabited by non-Christians, in Mindanao and the neighboring islands, where the General was in command before coming to Manila. He says: "There is no civilized inhabitant of the Philippine Islands-American, Spanish or Filipino-who would even suggest that the Moros are capable of civilized and enlightened self-government, for a government of lawi.e., regulated liberty-is absolutely unknown to and unthinkable by them. The Koran furnishes a religious code, and combines with it a moral and secular one. It is the proud boast of the Mussulman that a people who live in accordance with the teachings of the Prophet have no need for other codes, constitutions, charters and bills of rights; for they say that a rule to regulate every possible human action, or remedy every wrong or injustice, is to be found in the inspired writings of Mohammed, as recorded in the Koran. "With such a class of people it is useless to quote the bill of rights or to assert the sin and wrong of slavery. The Sultan, and Datto, and Pandita will not for an instant tolerate a suggestion that their royal and priestly functions could be taken away or assigned to another by or through some process we call 'voting,' a word as meaningless to them as the act would be absurd. They know that from time immemorial there have been overlords and priests, that the present incumbents have inherited their prerogatives, and the right of succession had never been questioned. "Americans have come here to teach and convince these people that all men are born free and equal, and that there is no such thing as inherited caste or privilege. The working out of this doctrine and the enforcement of it means the upsetting of the whole system of tribal and patriarchal government among the Moros, but they do not yet fully realize this. They ask us what we wish— why we have come among them-and what they are to do? Hitherto it has not been possible to answer these questions, and they do not understand us in the least. All we have said and could say is, 'Keep quiet and wait." " CHAPTER XVIII NATIVE GUARDIANS OF PEACE Filipino Police, Scouts and Constabulary-The Na- WHEN HEN the rebellion in the Philippines was put down in 1901 and its leader had sworn allegiance to the American flag, the authorities began at once to form plans for reducing the military forces in the islands. While the Government believes that the American soldier is unsurpassed in war, as it is understood by civilized people, it does not think that he makes the best policeman, especially among a people whose language and customs are new and strange to him, and should not be put to that use when a better substitute is at hand. This is found in the natives themselves, and more than twentytwo thousand Filipinos are aiding the fifteen thousand American soldiers in preserving peace throughout the islands. The American troops who formerly numbered more than seventy thousand men and occupied about six hundred posts are now in less than one hundred posts, leaving the main part of the islands to be cared for by the Filipinos. The native guardians of the peace are: (1) Municipal Police; (2) Constabulary; (3) Scouts. The Municipal Police are appointed, maintained and directed by local authorities; and they may be detailed for work outside of their own towns. The work of the Police Force of Manila under Captain Harding, and especially that of the detective bureau under Captain Trowbridge, has fallen within the observation of General Henry T. Allen, the Chief of the Philippine Constabulary, who says that it gives him "pleasure to commend the efficiency of this force as well as the good field work done by detachments put at his disposition by the Chief of Police of Manila and commanded by Captains Green and Luthi." The Municipal Police forces throughout the islands comprise 10 captains, 171 lieutenants, 688 sergeants, 1,181 corporals, and 7,873 privates, a total of 9,925. The Constabulary is a comprehensive police organization, separate and distinct from the Army, having for its head an officer of rank and pay commensurate with the importance of the position, with a sufficient number of assistants and subordinates to exercise thorough direction and control. It sustains the relation to the Army in the Philippines that the National Guard does to the Regular Army in this country. This organization embraces every township in the islands, and is so constituted that the police of several contiguous townships can be quickly mobilized. The chief officers of this organization are Americans, but the men and some of the subordinate officers are natives who are to serve in their own provinces, with proper provision for their advancement as a reward for loyal and efficient service. The Constabulary numbers 330 officers and 6,805 men, occupying 212 stations. The Constabulary is under the control of the general Government at Manila, but the Governor of a province may |